I can’t believe it’s December already. The year is closing in. Have I accomplished anything this year?

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent and as we begin the countdown of the Christmas Season, Dan Bair began by preaching on “Surprise Children.”  For me, I often forget about the other miraculous births in the Bible and simply remember the virgin birth of Jesus.  But what Dan showed us is that God has a pattern in the past that gives us hope for the future.  Jesus’ birth was miraculous and historical.  And what’s surprising is how Jesus’ birth was missed by most Jews despite their knowledge of all of the miraculous births in the Old Testament.

The virgin birth of Jesus is the only one of its kind.  But the barren births of key players in the Old Testament display the pattern of God’s plan to bring Jesus into the world.  Check this out:

Sarah gives birth to Isaac who is the son of promise.

Rebekah gives birth to Jacob who becomes the name of a people.

Rachel gives birth to Joseph who becomes the savior of his family.

Manoah’s wife gives birth to Samson who is a judge of strength.

Hannah gives birth to Samuel who is a king maker.

Elizabeth gives birth to John who is a forerunner to the king.

Mary gives birth to Jesus who is all of the above.

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 54:1 KJVR)

A research I recently undertook on barren women from the bible made me come up with an amazing conclusion which I would like to share with you. I realized that they all had one thing in common and that is that they were all carriers of the anointed ones.

Sarah wife to Abraham was barren up to the age of 90 years when she conceived Isaac. Rebecca was barren too until Isaac entreated the LORD for her and she conceived twins, Jacob and Esau. Leah also Jacobs spouse was barren for over 7 years before she conceived Reuben.

Notice that to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were the promises made to carry the seed which is Christ the anointed one. Nevertheless their wives were all barren.

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16 KJVR)

Furthermore, the anointed Samson was born of a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. An angel of God appeared to his wife and assured her that she would conceive, and bear a son; and no razor should come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb. The word Nazarite literary means to be separated, that is to be consecrated or anointed.

Another anointed one born of a barren woman is Prophet Samuel. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was barren till she vowed a vow, and said, “O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”

Lastly on my list of barren women that conceive the anointed ones is Elizabeth the mother to John the Baptist. Even Christ said among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist yet his mother was barren before conceiving him.

My first observation as I said earlier is that all these mothers carried anointed seed. Secondly, I also observed that the seed they carried had a role to play in the coming of the Most Anointed One Christ Jesus. John the Baptist revealed Christ, Samuel anointed David the root of Christ, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob carried the seed of Christ, whilst Samson is a type of Christ who delivered Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

A word for the Christian brethren

If there are any symptoms of barrenness in your life confess and forsake your sins. If the symptoms persist after you have confessed your sins please consult a deliverance minister. If that too shows no signs of improvement, it might be a sign that you are a carrier of a special anointing. Anointing carriers are usually called by God for a specific purpose and sometimes all other endeavors may prove futile because of the anointing until you surrender to God’s will for your life and allow the anointing to be birthed first.

MATTHEW RECOMMENDS

The Anointing (with Study Guide) By Benny Hinn / Thomas Nelson

Understanding The Anointing By Kenneth E. Hagin / Faith Library Publications

Release Your Anointing: Tapping the Power of the Holy Spirit in You By T.D. Jakes / Destiny Image

Wigglesworth on the Anointing By Smith Wigglesworth / Whitaker House Publishers

The Anointing: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow By R.T. Kendall / Charisma House

Childbearing In the Last Days

Often we are asked whether or not we have children and when we answer no we are often asked when we are planning to have children. When we answer that we are not we are encouraged to have children or questioned why we have made this decision. I know that there are many people who unable to bear children, there must be many like us who have not tried to and are also bombarded with curious and sometimes unthoughtful questions. This study is not just for you (however, you may find it very helpful,) but also to those thinking of having children.

This is a very serious and can be a sensitive issue so first let me make it clear that I do like children. I very much enjoy babies. I find them to be amazing and awesome miracles. However, I realize that they do not stay babies and they are people who are in a battle for their souls as all of us are. I know that we must as with all things in our life consider the councils that God has given us in regards to beginning a lifelong joy and responsibility of child bearing in the last days.

The Blessings of Children

God planned that Adam and Eve should be fruitful, He commanded that Noah and his family replenish the earth. There are other times recorded in Holy Script when God specifically called men to have families. Hosea was called to marry a prostitute and bear children to show the children of Israel their condition. Isaiah also was called for the same purpose; Isaiah  8:18   Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me [are] for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.”

Noble traits are developed through child rearing, “the sympathy, forbearance, and love required in dealing with children would be a blessing in any household.” For “a child brought up in the fear of the Lord is a blessing.”{AH 160.3} Enoch experienced a closer relationship to God through his relationship with his son for He realized “more fully his own obligations and responsibility as a son of God.” {AH 160.5}

Children are not just a joy but also a responsibility; a precious trust. “children are committed to their parents as a precious trust, which God will one day require at their hands.” {AH 161.1} We find that as God commanded some to have children, He commanded others not to have families. Jeremiah, for instance was told in Jeremiah 16:2  “ Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.” If you read the rest of the chapter you will find that there were very serious consequences for those who did have children.

The question is then how should each of us know if we should or should not have children?

A Time To Stop Bearing Children?

Jesus himself gave warning to times in which having children would cause difficulty. In His discourse with the disciples. Jesus laid down a line of prophecy for them and for us.

Matthew  24:19   And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

Mark  13:17   But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

Luke 21:23   But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

Here Jesus is speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem. He is also speaking about the last days. For the children of Ancient Israel are a example to our own time. The events surrounding Jesus’ first coming specifically give us council to that of His second Coming. If Jesus would point out that a time would be on the earth where a woe is pronounced on those with child and them that have small children then it is up to us to heed this council as it corresponds to our time.

In Luke 23:27-31 Jesus again speaks to the women of Israel during His passion.

“And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

“Not a few women are in the crowd that follow the Uncondemned to His cruel death. Their attention is fixed upon Jesus. Some of them have seen Him before. Some have carried to Him their sick and suffering ones. Some have themselves been healed. The story of the scenes that have taken place is related. They wonder at the hatred of the crowd toward Him for whom their own hearts are melting and ready to break. And notwithstanding the action of the maddened throng, and the angry words of the priests and rulers, these women give expression to their sympathy. As Jesus falls fainting beneath the cross, they break forth into mournful wailing.  {DA 742.4}

This was the only thing that attracted Christ’s attention. Although full of suffering, while bearing the sins of the world, He was not indifferent to the expression of grief. He looked upon these women with tender compassion. They were not believers in Him; He knew that they were not lamenting Him as one sent from God, but were moved by feelings of human pity. He did not despise their sympathy, but it awakened in His heart a deeper sympathy for them. “Daughters of Jerusalem,” He said, “weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” From the scene before Him, Christ looked forward to the time of Jerusalem’s destruction. In that terrible scene, many of those who were now weeping for Him were to perish with their children.  {DA 743.1}

From the fall of Jerusalem the thoughts of Jesus passed to a wider judgment. In the destruction of the impenitent city He saw a symbol of the final destruction to come upon the world. He said, “Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” By the green tree, Jesus represented Himself, the innocent Redeemer. God suffered His wrath against transgression to fall on His beloved Son. Jesus was to be crucified for the sins of men. What suffering, then, would the sinner bear who continued in sin? All the impenitent and unbelieving would know a sorrow and misery that language would fail to express.”{DA 743.2}

Jesus was not alone in his council for the last days, of not having children to care for while you are preparing for the last hours of probation. Paul also gave in his letter to the Corinthians.

Paul’s Council 1 Corinthians 7:26-35

“I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be.

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

And they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please [his] wife.

There is difference [also] between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband.

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

As we read in Paul’s council that we are to be as we are in the time of distress. If we are married we are not to get divorced and if we are single we are not to be married. Then he makes it clear that marriage is not a sin, and one does not sin just because he is getting married. But that they will have trouble in the flesh. This trouble he does not explain at this point.

Then Paul tells us in verse 29 that when we are at the end of time that it will be important for everyone who is married to act as though they are not. Now we know that he does not mean to get a divorce because he has just made that clear in verse  10 “And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband”, in verse 11 “But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife”, and in verse 27 “Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed.”  He does explain that the unmarried man “careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:” and the unmarried woman “careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit:”. So Paul is teaching that when time is short we should avoid extra cares and endeavor to “attend upon the Lord without distraction.”

Now there are many distractions in the world, and Paul is clear to add that he is writing not to make things hard in our marriages and lives but to make things easier for us to be faithful to God. He does qualify that his council is for when time is short. Because getting married and having children is not a sin in of itself. But if at the end of the world we are marrying and giving in marriage without seeking God’s guidance we are like the Antediluvians, which Jesus warns in Matthew 24:37 – 39. “But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Jesus shows that there is a danger of not realizing the shortness of time in which we are living. There is a danger in getting involved with things that would be normal and expected and forgetting that we are in a time of judgment. In a parable of the seed found in Matthew 13:22,  some seed fell on thorny ground. This ground represented those who hear the word but the cares of life choke the life from it. This is an important lesson taught by Jesus;  there is a way to loose salvation by just being busy. Jesus shows in His discourse with Mary and Martha (Luke 10) that there is a way to be busy even with things that are necessary, that will take from us the precious words of life for our eternal soul. Paul when speaking about being married and acting as if you are not married tells us that married individuals “careth for the things that are of the world.” Be careful that you are aware of the time in which we are living and not more of your personal relationships but God’s work for you now in your personal salvation and of the salvation of others. 1 Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

How Not To Be Barren

In the Bible there are numerous places in which women who were barren prayed for children and did receive them. Being barren was a sort of curse, and God makes promises of His children not being barren. Peter uses this concept in a way that we often do not consider when He shares the precious truth of his ladder to sanctification. Found in 2 Peter 1:2-7

Promises of Peter’s Latter

2 Peter   1:8   For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a way to be barren of a knowledge of God. We can lack a knowledge of God and consequentially be unfruitful. Alternately, if you follow the way in which God has graciously given you have the promise of success of righteousness.

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

Peter gives a warning that if you fail to go the path God has placed before us all you will not be able to see the things to come. In verse 9 he writes “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” This is exactly what Jesus warns of the last days, in the time of Noah, they could not see what was coming even though they could see Noah building a boat and others getting ready.

As we see the signs of Christ coming thickening around us we must be careful not to get busy doing what would be normal in any other time. For the closing hours of probation and the Day of Atonement are sacred and not to be esteemed lightly. Let us always bring God into our plans and seeks His council on whatever we do. We show our faith in Him when we are willing to sacrifice our wants now as Christ did and believe that He knows what is best for us.

Council On Family Planning

When considering the size of your family:

Consider the effect on society

“There are parents who, without consideration as to whether or not they can do justice to a large family, fill their houses with these helpless little beings, who are wholly dependent upon their parents for care and instruction. . . . This is a grievous wrong, not only to the mother, but to her children and to society. . . .”  {AH 162.1}

Consider the future of your children

“Parents should always bear in mind the future good of their children. They should not be compelled to devote every hour to taxing labor in order to provide the necessaries of life.”  {AH 162.2}

Consider your economic capabilities

“Before increasing their family, they should take into consideration whether God would be glorified or dishonored by their bringing children into the world. They should seek to glorify God by their union from the first, and during every year of their married life. They should calmly consider what provision can be made for their children. They have no right to bring children into the world to be a burden to others. Have they a business that they can rely upon to sustain a family, so that they need not become a burden to others? If they have not, they commit a crime in bringing children into the world to suffer for want of proper care, food, and clothing.” {MYP 462.2}

“Those who are seriously deficient in business tact, and who are the least qualified to get along in the world, generally fill their houses with children; while men who have ability to acquire property generally have no more children than they can well provide for. Those who are not qualified to take care of themselves should not have children.” {AH 165.1}

Consider the Mother’s health

“In view of the responsibility that devolves upon parents, it should be carefully considered whether it is best to bring children into the family. Has the mother sufficient strength to care for her children? And can the father give such advantages as will rightly mold and educate the child? How little is the destiny of the child considered! The gratification of passion is the only thought, and burdens are brought upon the wife and mother which undermine her vitality and paralyze her spiritual power. In broken health and with discouraged spirits she finds herself surrounded by a little flock whom she cannot care for as she should. Lacking the instruction they should have, they grow up to dishonor God and to communicate to others the evil of their own natures, and thus an army is raised up whom Satan manages as he pleases.” {AH 162.4}

Consider the ability to educate

“God would have parents act as rational beings and live in such a manner that each child may be properly educated, that the mother may have strength and time to employ her mental powers in disciplining her little ones for the society of the angels. She should have courage to act nobly her part and to do her work in the fear and love of God, that her children may prove a blessing to the family and to society.  {AH 163.1}

The husband and father should consider all these things lest the wife and mother of his children be overtaxed and thus overwhelmed with despondency. He should see to it that the mother of his children is not placed in a position where she cannot possibly do justice to her numerous little ones, so that they have to come up without proper training.  {AH 163.2}

Parents should not increase their families any faster than they know that their children can be well cared for and educated. A child in the mother’s arms from year to year is great injustice to her. It lessens, and often destroys, social enjoyment and increases domestic wretchedness. It robs their children of that care, education, and happiness which parents should feel it their duty to bestow upon them.”  {AH 163.3}

Consider will my children be saved?

“The question to be settled by you is, “Am I raising a family of children to strengthen the influence and swell the ranks of the powers of darkness, or am I bringing up children for Christ?” {AH 163.4}

If you do not govern your children and mold their characters to meet the requirements of God, then the fewer children there are to suffer from your defective training the better it will be for you, their parents, and the better it will be for society. Unless children can be trained and disciplined from their babyhood by a wise and judicious mother who is conscientious and intelligent, and who rules her household in the fear of the Lord, molding and shaping their characters to meet the standard of righteousness, it is a sin to increase your family. God has given you reason, and He requires you to use it.  {AH 164.1}

Fathers and mothers, when you know that you are deficient in a knowledge of how to train your children for the Master, why do you not learn your lessons? Why do you continue to bring children into the world to swell the numbers in Satan’s ranks? Is God pleased with this showing? When you see that a large family will severely tax your resources, when you see that it is giving the mother her hands full of children, and that she has not time intervening between their births to do the work every mother needs to do, why do you not consider the sure result? Every child draws upon the vitality of the mother, and when fathers and mothers do not use their reason in this matter, what chance is given to parents or children to be properly disciplined? The Lord calls upon parents to consider this matter in the light of future eternal realities.”  {AH 164.2}

Consider are you better suited to be a missionary? –

“In sending missionaries to distant countries, those men should be selected who know how to economize, who have not large families, and who, realizing the shortness of time and the great work to be accomplished, will not fill their hands and houses with children, but will keep themselves as free as possible from everything that will divert their minds from their one great work. The wife, if devoted and left free to do so, can, by standing by the side of her husband, accomplish as much as he. God has blessed woman with talents to be used to His glory in bringing many sons and daughters to God; but many who might be efficient laborers are kept at home to care for their little ones.  {AH 165.3}

We want missionaries who are missionaries in the fullest sense of the word; who will put aside selfish considerations and let the cause of God come first; and who, working with an eye single to His glory, will keep themselves as minute men to go where He shall bid and to work in any capacity to spread the knowledge of the truth. Men who have wives that love and fear God and that can help them in the work are needed in the missionary field. Many who have families go out to labor, but they do not give themselves entirely to the work. Their minds are divided. Wife and children draw them from their labor and often keep them out of fields that they might enter were it not that they think they must be near their home.”{AH 166.1}

“By accepting the work of rearing children in these last days of uncertainty and peril, many place themselves in a position where they can not labor either in the canvassing field or in any other branch of the cause of God, and some lose all interest to do this. They are content with a common, low level, and assimilate to the position they have chosen. The bewitching power of Satan’s deception wrought within the human heart its evil work. Instead of candidly considering the time in which we live, and the work they might do in leading others to the truth they reason from a selfish standpoint, and follow the impulse of their own unconsecrated hearts. “(SPTb16, 17)

Special Note to Ministers

1 TImoothy 3:1-5

This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

1 Timothy 3:1-5  tells us that if you desire to minister for God that there are requirements for you. These requirements include being able to rule your household. Therefore those with children can become minister’s only if their children are in subjection to them, for “if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” This is not to say that Ministers must have children.

For Minster’s wives there is specific counsel that “if she has no inclination or fitness to engage in missionary work outside her home, and feels it her duty to take orphan children and care for them, she may do a good work… But if the minister’s wife can herself act a part in the work of educating others, she should consecrate her powers to God as a Christian worker. She should be a true helper to her husband, assisting him in his work, improving her intellect, and helping to give the message. The way is open for humble, consecrated women, dignified by the grace of Christ, to visit those in need of help and shed light into discouraged souls. They can lift up the bowed down by praying with them and pointing them to Christ. Such should not devote their time and strength to one helpless little mortal that requires constant care and attention. They should not thus voluntarily tie their hands.” {AH 169.2}

If you already have children, pray and fast, that you might raise them aright, take comfort that with much suffering your children can be a blessing in the work.

“When properly conducted, church schools will be the means of lifting the standard of truth in the places where they are established; for children who are receiving a Christian education will be witnesses for Christ. As Jesus in the temple solved the mysteries which priests and rulers had not discerned, so in the closing work of his earth children who have been rightly educated will in their simplicity speak words which will be an astonishment to men who now talk of “higher education.” As the children sang in the temple courts, “Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,” so in these last days children’s voices will be raised to give the last message of warning to a perishing world. When heavenly intelligences see that men are no longer permitted to present the truth, the Spirit of God will come upon the children, and they will do a work in the proclamation of the truth which the older workers cannot do, because their way will be hedged up.”(PH048, 29)

365- Barren, originally uploaded by boomer3297.

One of my past shots showed this marina completely full. Well as we approach Dec. most of all the boats are gone to dry dock. Next time I’m here there should be quite a few more boats. Too bad that’s 6 months from now.

I dreamt that I was barren. That I missed my window of opportunity to have kids. I missed the boat because I wasted time on too much study. Time slips away so fast when one is drowning in their own self pity. Oh yes, I admit I am drowning in my own self pity because my current situation is nobodies else’s fault other than my own.

Even though I might of had a teacher who is hell bent on not doing their job which includes providing inadquate supervision, contradictory and untimely feedback.  I should point out that this teacher took more than one year to return feedback (and this is with his boss monitoring his activities with regards to me). To most people  that sounds completely unreasonable and they can’t believe I let that behaviour go on for as long as I did. However, universities are self-regulated and are a law unto their own. I have received countless apologies for the situation and offers of more time to finish but I no longer want more time I want a life.  If my teacher has his way I’d be 40 years old by the time I’ve finished and my biological clock is ticking increasingly louder each day. I often wonder if I were a man would I feel this level of stress and anxiety at being toyed with?

xoxo Julianne

It is our longings that causes us to look unto God. God caused the Israelites to hunger and “At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, to the work of his hands; neither shall he respect that which his fingers have made, either the idols or the images”.

It is our need that causes us to call upon God. “For they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and He shall send them a Savior, and a great one, and He shall deliver them”.

I don’t claim to understand why God calls some of us to strange circumstances. But I do know that without lack we will “forget the God of our salvation, and not be mindful of the rock of our strength”.

God has called me to a life without children of my own. I believe it is one of the most devastating things He can call a woman to. In Proverbs 30:15 it is one of the four things that are never satisfied. “Sheol; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, it is enough”. But in the midst of this, God has been faithful to His word. Psalms 113:9 “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children”. The Lord has called me to the ministry of therapeutic foster care and to the honor of raising my husband’s grandchildren. Sometimes I don’t understand this calling, at times it makes about as much sense to me as Isaiah walking naked and barefoot for three years for a sign and wonder upon Eqypt and upon Ethiopia, but I know this, it is not punitive, it is for an eternal purpose and it keeps me seeking my God and His strength on a daily basis. Thus, through the pain, I count it all joy.

Acrylic on Canvas,

41 x 51 cm,

I think my style has taken on a different look in this my newest painting

I’m not quite pleased enough with this paintined yet, I think the hole needs some more and perhaps some more shading incertain areas

Hours of match-making and creature-creating fun await you in Evoly, a delightful new arcade life sim! Make fast matches in the puzzle rounds to clear the board and watch your income grow. Then use the money you’ve earned to purchase a range of plants and creatures and bring a barren world back to life. As you progress, you can upgrade your creatures to produce hundreds of unique species and populate three worlds with a variety of eye-popping delights. Don’t pass up the chance to play this new classic!

More than 80 levels

More than 20 species of creatures

More than 30 species of plant

Two types of bonuses

Three unique planets

It Takes Just A Second To Say Thanks,

It Takes Longer To The Work On This.

Evoly

I took this one while hiking in the mountains just outside of Nice, France. Landscapes really aren’t my thing, but at least they don’t make silly faces or run for cover what technical info would you like? It’s a mountain, somewhere about 2300m altitude, and along the GR-52 hiking trail. I am thinking a print would look good in my living room.

Nice one

Még több kép / more pictures:

Leah and (fill in the blank) plus 8

never gonna happen. 

Ok, technically I suppose that could happen since they used fertility drugs but it’s the principle of the matter that I am referring to; having babies, damnit.

Our professor looks out onto the young unsuspecting class (myself included) and announces that 1 out of every 4 women in the room will suffer from infertility.  I discreetly glance around for that 1 in my row. Aha, it’s most likely that redhead at the end with the leopard printed backpack, poor thing, but in this case it’s probably for the best.  I am still feeling bad for the barren cheetah co-ed when the professor proceeds to tell us that with our generation pushing back breeding so late we are experiencing infertility more than ever.  I nod my head in agreement.  Who are these crazy fifty somethings having babies anyway?  But, wait.  She isn’t referring to the crazy fifty somethings, no she is talking about the thirties… what, wait, did she say 31!?  Yes, apparently at the age of 31 women’s ability to become pregnant decreases by a staggering 50%.  I begin to panic and quickly look at my right hand to count my fingers.  Okay, 25 oh crap I’ll be 26 in January, okay, 27,28,29, 30, 31.  Oh my GOD!  FIVE FINGERS!? NOOOOOOOOOOO.  I then start to calculate the other variables;  2 more years for school puts me at 28, which only leaves me with 3 years to get my career going, say yes to a request of marriage, marry and set up the nursery! SHIT. 

Defeated, I look over at the infertile backpack girl and take a deep breath.  We now have become one in the same.   What have I been doing all these years?  Wasting precious baby making opportunities!  It’s too late now.  And I’m not ready! !  I could adopt later, older celebrities do that all the time.  But I think those babies are expensive, hhmm, I could just get more cats or maybe my brother and his wife could give me their kid, he’s cute and I like him. 

I now decide that this class is depressing and just plain mean. I already have a slight inkling that I am the oldest in this particular course (some of the freshman still have braces.)  It was only a few weeks ago that my ageist professor called me out, “Are there any of you who are 25 or older in the class?”  Not a single hand went up.  I was going to be honest and raise my hand, but that would have blown my cover… (as a hard-hitting blogger trying to understand the complexities of undergrad psychology?). She continued to inform us that our main capacity for learning stops by 25 so if we had some sort of genius it would have already developed.  Well great news for the 18 year olds surrounding me, but what about me!?  There’s ZERO chance of me becoming a genius??!!

I am at knowledge capacity, simply recycling my old tattered memory cells, and infertile (according to my 3 credit requirement).  I am thinking about how unfair the world is when I remember how hard that lady’s life was who ruled that south american country.  Crap, what was her name?  I think she grew up really poor and had to sleep her way to the top.  Oh yeah, it’s that Madonna movie.  Evita!  Yeah, life was hard on her, she didn’t have babies and she didn’t let it stop her from singing really good songs with Antonio Banderas and when she died a lot of people went to see her casket.  Yes, don’t cry for me minnesota… it could be worse I suppose.

Acrylic on Canvas board,
2009

Taken by Crazyrives – Javierrives.com flickr.com/photos/26393606@N07/3946598127

Barren land of white

Kumod Verma, TNN 22 September 2009, 04:19am IST
PATNA: The railway ministry has decided to take up the ambitious project related to automation of railway land management system across the
country. Under the plan, the railways would use hectares of vacant and waste land not required for operational purposes for commercial needs to earn additional revenue.

According to a Railway Board official, the board approved this plan to lease out barren and unused railway land for commercial purposes with a view to generating revenue. This project, which has already got the nod of the railway ministry, is being taken up first in four metropolitan cities of the country. Subsequently, it will be taken up in other states across the country, including Bihar.

The board has directed all the railway zones to identify such land and inform it immediately so that it could be entrusted to Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) for the commercial exploitation of the barren and waste land, the official said, adding the board intends to standardize and automate such plots.

Although the railways has given the task of identifying barren land in each zone of the railways and lease them out for commercial purposes to interested people who are keen to exploit these lands for business purposes only to Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), all the zones have also been directed to chalk out the details of such land on their own, the official added. The railways has taken a decision to use barren lands either for hotel or any commercial ventures, he said.

The East Central Railway (ECR) has a lot of land lying barren in several districts in Bihar. There are about 1,500 acres of land lying unutilized at about 350 stations under the ECR. These lands are mostly those which could be fully commercially exploited, sources said.

The railways intends to lease out land at Gaya, Dehri-on-Sone, Bagaha, Raxaul and other places in the state. Earlier, the ECR had proposed to set up plush hotels at historically important places in the state to cater to the needs of tourists.

A proposal to this effect was sent to RVNL to decide it in the larger interest of giving a fillip to tourism in the state. However, no concrete steps have been taken in the matter so far, sources said.

The railways had earlier decided to lease out land to Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Bagaha and the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) at Dehri-on-Sone for building their office complex. However, the project could not materialize, sources said.

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Kumod Verma, TNN 22 September 2009, 04:19am IST
PATNA: The railway ministry has decided to take up the ambitious project related to automation of railway land management system across the
country. Under the plan, the railways would use hectares of vacant and waste land not required for operational purposes for commercial needs to earn additional revenue.

According to a Railway Board official, the board approved this plan to lease out barren and unused railway land for commercial purposes with a view to generating revenue. This project, which has already got the nod of the railway ministry, is being taken up first in four metropolitan cities of the country. Subsequently, it will be taken up in other states across the country, including Bihar.

The board has directed all the railway zones to identify such land and inform it immediately so that it could be entrusted to Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) for the commercial exploitation of the barren and waste land, the official said, adding the board intends to standardize and automate such plots.

Although the railways has given the task of identifying barren land in each zone of the railways and lease them out for commercial purposes to interested people who are keen to exploit these lands for business purposes only to Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), all the zones have also been directed to chalk out the details of such land on their own, the official added. The railways has taken a decision to use barren lands either for hotel or any commercial ventures, he said.

The East Central Railway (ECR) has a lot of land lying barren in several districts in Bihar. There are about 1,500 acres of land lying unutilized at about 350 stations under the ECR. These lands are mostly those which could be fully commercially exploited, sources said.

The railways intends to lease out land at Gaya, Dehri-on-Sone, Bagaha, Raxaul and other places in the state. Earlier, the ECR had proposed to set up plush hotels at historically important places in the state to cater to the needs of tourists.

A proposal to this effect was sent to RVNL to decide it in the larger interest of giving a fillip to tourism in the state. However, no concrete steps have been taken in the matter so far, sources said.

The railways had earlier decided to lease out land to Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Bagaha and the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) at Dehri-on-Sone for building their office complex. However, the project could not materialize, sources said.

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Sarai was barren; she had no child.  Gen. 11:30

Sarai is the first mention of a barren woman in scripture.  We know she ultimately has a child, but until that time she was barren. The curious thing about this condition is that it prevents a woman from completely enduring the curse that God proclaimed back in the garden on Eve. (Gen. 3:16)  At the same time, not all women have children or even attempt to.  So it would seem they avoid this part of the curse by their choices.  Any truly barren woman however need not take such pains to avoid it.

]]> http://dailyword.tgblive.org/2009/09/18/september-18/ Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:44:34 +0000 tgblive http://dailyword.tgblive.org/2009/09/18/september-18/

Sometimes, when we don´t see our dreams and desires coming to pass, we can feel empty and barren like a woman who is unable to have children. But look at what this verse is saying: if you´ve got unborn promises, don´t just sit around in defeat. Don´t just give up and say, “Too bad for me.” No, God says when you´re barren, the first thing you need to do is sing a song of praise. You might think, “Well, Joel, I´m kind of depressed today. I´ll sing after I have my ´baby.´” No, this passage wasn´t written to people who were holding their baby and had seen their dreams come to pass. It was written to empty-armed people; people who didn´t have what they were believing for. Do you know why? When you´re giving God praise, do you know what you are doing? You are activating your faith and putting yourself into position to give birth to that promise. You are setting yourself up for God to move on your behalf. Why don´t you get into position today by singing a song of praise? All throughout the day, thank Him for what He is doing in your life and watch those dreams and desires come to pass.

My Bible Promise For Today:

“Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.” (Psalm 59:17)

Sometimes, when we don’t see our dreams and desires coming to pass, we can feel empty and barren like a woman who is unable to have children. But look at what this verse is saying: if you’ve got unborn promises, don’t just sit around in defeat. Don’t just give up and say, “Too bad for me.” No, God says when you’re barren, the first thing you need to do is sing a song of praise. You might think, “Well, Joel, I’m kind of depressed today. I’ll sing after I have my ‘baby.’” No, this passage wasn’t written to people who were holding their baby and had seen their dreams come to pass. It was written to empty-armed people; people who didn’t have what they were believing for. Do you know why? When you’re giving God praise, do you know what you are doing? You are activating your faith and putting yourself into position to give birth to that promise. You are setting yourself up for God to move on your behalf.

Why don’t you get into position today by singing a song of praise? All throughout the day, thank Him for what He is doing in your life and watch those dreams and desires come to pass.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

“Father in heaven, I surrender all my questions, all my doubts, all my fears to You today. I know that You have a plan to fulfill every dream and desire in my heart. I choose to sing praises to You this day and thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

I keep reading all these articles about women hysterical to give birth. Apparently the idea of woman-as-mother that we have in this country runs completely contrary to the number of women who are infertile(although, studies say it’s usually the dude shooting blanks). And, while I feel sympathy for the women struggling to kickstart their uteruses, I have a hard time conjuring up any empathy.

See, I’m afraid of pregnancy. And gestation. And childbirth. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that sometimes it borders on downright tocophobia. When I first went to the doctor with my two-month long periods and he told me I was partially infertile, I started doing backflips in my head. “Huzzah!” I though, “No babies!” But only partially infertile still leaves me with the ability to conceive and so I still can’t rest easy.

I don’t know where it comes from; it’s completely unfounded. But I find myself wishing I could cut into myself and cut out that part which, medically, defines me as a woman. I want to have a vacancy there, an empty space just in front of my kidneys. I want barren, empty ovaries and philopian tubes stapled shut. I want to grind a fist into my stomach until I lose all reproductive abilities.

As for motherhood, I have no problems. As a feminist, I reject the culture of motherhood defining womanhood; I want to have accomplishments to look back on, not just diapers and vomit. But that doesn’t mean that motherhood is completely out of the question for me. I do sorta want a little girl or boy to raise up, in addition to a career rather than instead of one. But I want to adopt. Or surrogate. Or grow the child in a test tube. Anything to avoid what I can’t help but think of as a disgusting, parasitic process. I have a very deep feeling that if I gave birth to my own child, I would hate it. Hate it for invading me and making me sick. Hate it for doing to me what every fetus does to its mother.

I know I sound cruel, but I’ve tried accepting my childbearing abilities and I simply can’t. I don’t hate children, or babies, and I won’t be cruel to any children in my care. But I cannot even get near the idea of pregnancy without starting to feel panic. Wanting to run away and keep running until I feel safe again.

I wish I could trade utureses with some of these women who are trying so hard to conceive. Inside them, my reproductive system would be beautiful. For them, having a baby would be grand and natural and healthy. And I could revel in the knowledge that I am empty and bare inside, with philopian tubes stapled shut. I could sleep peacefully at night without fear of some sort of holy conception scenario leaving me with child.

The surreal and barren landscape was the rule rather than the exception in Iceland, especially in the winter.  Even after landing at the main airport, it takes a 40 minute drive along the sea through a volcanic field that could be on mars before arriving in Reykjavik.  Driving to a fjord near the capital, the Icelandic horses that dot the landscape contribute to the notion that you are not in a real place.  Short and cuddly with a thick coat, the animals were bred for their brute strength, despite their small size.  The horses were extremely friendly and jumped at the opportunity to come to the edge of the fence to greet us. They are also known for their special gait, the tolt, which is unique to the breed.

BARREN WOMEN GAVE BIRTH^©

ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo

There were women in the Holy Bible who were barren but with God’s will, they conceived as prophesied.  “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14)  God sent an angel to announce the event.

1.  The angel of the Lord told Abraham that his old and barren wife Sarah would conceive and give birth to a son; to wit (All quotations from King James Version):

Genesis 18:10 – “And he [one of the three men, most likely an angel of the Lord, or the Lord Himself] said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.  And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.”

2.   The angel of the Lord told Zechariah that his old and barren wife Elisabeth would conceive and give birth to a son to be named John; to wit:

Luke 1:13 – “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zechariah: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”

Luke 1:19 – “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.”

3.  The angel appeared to Manoah’s wife (mother of Samson) who was barren, and said:

Judges 13:3 – “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.”

4.  Regarding Santa Ana, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on page 12a of Pasiong Mahal [Holy Passion], it is indeterminate who revealed that she would conceive and to whom whether it was revealed to her or to her husband San Joaquin.  It states: “Kahi’t baog at matanda si Santa Anang dakila, naglihi at nanganak nga isang babaing mistula dikit na walang kamukha.  Rosa na lubhang maganda sadyang mabangong sampaga ang anak ni Santa Ana yaong nga at dili iba ang Birheng Santa Mary.” [“Even though the great Santa Ana was barren and old, she conceived and gave birth to an incomparable girl.  A very beautiful rose who smelled as scented as sampaguita was the child of Santa Ana who is none other than the Blessed Virgin Mary.”]

You may question my using Pasiong Mahal other than the Holy Bible but the Holy Spirit told us that we may use the former as well since not all the details are in the latter.

On the following, God can make a woman to conceive and He can also withhold her to conceive.

1.   Rebekah was the wife of Isaac.  Isaac entreated the Lord to make his wife conceive.  She conceived to twins Esau and Jacob.

Genesis 25:21 – “And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.”

2.  Jacob was married to sisters Leah and Rachel.  The Lord opened the womb of Leah but Rachel was barren.  Leah gave birth to Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.  She thought she had stopped bearing children so she gave Jacob her handmaid Zilpah to wife.  Zilpah gave birth to Gad and Asher.   God made Leah to conceive again and gave birth to Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. 

After Leah gave birth to Judah, Rachel said to Jacob to give her children or else she would die.  Jacob, in her anger, said:

                 Genesis 30:2 – “Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?”

 In desperation, Rachel gave her handmaid Bilhah for Jacob to wife.  Bilhah gave birth to Dan and Naphtali.  God remembered Rachel and heard her and opened her womb.  She gave birth to Joseph and much later (Genesis 35:18), to Benjamin.

If the children of Israel would listen and “keep the commandments, and the statues, and the judgment” and do them, the Lord God shall keep the covenant that He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He promised:

                               Deuteronomy 7:14 – “Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, and among your cattle.”

File:  030-barren.htm     URL:  http://www.geocities.com/peacecrusader888/030-barren.htm
First uploaded:  2009-08-22     Last updated:  2009-08-22     Rev. No. 0

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